HRWC is a nonprofit coalition of Huron Valley residents, businesses, and local governments. The Council bridges political boundaries by building partnerships between and among communities, community leaders, residents, and commercial enterprises. Serving those constituencies, HRWC monitors the Huron River, its tributaries, lakes, and groundwater, and directs multiple programs addressing pollution prevention and abatement, wetland and floodplain protection, citizen education, and natural resource and land-use planning.

The Nature Conservancy’s vision of “climate-smart” conservation seeks to anticipate human responses to climate change, and considers the benefits to people that result from our actions to protect and restore nature. One key area for engagement and partnership has been work on state Wildlife Action Plans (WAP). This case study describes a vulnerability assessment of 163 species comprising eight taxonomic groups from Illinois’ list of “Species in Greatest Need of Conservation” designated in the state’s Wildlife Action Plan.

Climate change presents an uncertain future with potentially high costs for Missoula County in western Montana. The area's economy and high quality of life that draw and keep people in the region could be in jeopardy due to changes in average temperature, stream flows, and precipitation. While the exact trajectory of change is unknown, preparations can be made for the future based on a reasonable range of expected scenarios. Preparing for climate change is similar to preparing for other potential events, such as fire or drought.